The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-22

kindness, viii you honor our humble
board tomorrow / shall have savant
here like yourself, and you two will enjoy
each others company, am sure. And
my husband will be so happy to have YOU
/ thanked her for the invitation and
promised IA be on hand.
At the appointed hour was shown into
their modest parlor, and you may be sure
tho husbands gratitude was no less
warmly expressed than the wifes. And
little Lizzie threw her arms around my
neck and showered on me the innocent Gu
resses of a happy child. seemed, indeed
to be one of the family.
The dinner was merry one, the savant
seemed to be an interesting man-in brief,
passed IN excellent evening.
The air had been heavy the whole day,
and In the evening n storm came on.
Thunder caps succeeded one another
without interruption, the rain fell In tor
rents. Whether II was the effect of the
storm, Of the suffocating heat, or OF the
wine had drank, felt n strange melan-
choly, | could not breathe comfortably.
was about to set out for home, however,
for IL was late and my house was ut some
distance; but they insisted that | should
stay. II would be foolish to expose my
self to such n tempest, when ] was not
feeling well; the mother begged me with
such good grace that felt forced to re-
main and pass the night in that hospitable
house. They tremendously conducted
me to my room, and there wished me
good night. remember even that Lizzie
having fallen asleep in her fathers arms,
kissed her little cheek, paled by sleep,
and her dimpled little arms.
Left alone, began to undress slowly
and wandering about the room, ms one
always does when one sleeps in strange
place. felt as if should smother in the
close atmosphere of the room. Before
getting in bed / wanted to inhale little
of the outside air, and in spite of the roar
ing storm tried to open the window. II
was false window.
"Well, wellr' / exclaimed, little sur
prised.
/ thought would remove the chimney
screen; it was u false chimney. rushed
to the door-it was locked Fear seized
me, and, holding my breath, listened.
The house was quiet, all seemed to be
asleep. Then l inspected the room care
fully, straining my ears for the least
sound. On the floor, near the bed,
noticed spots; It was blood-dried and
blackcned Hood! | shuddered and cold
sweat stood out on my forehead. Bloodl
Why should there be blood there? And /
saw that whole sea of blood must have
been split therefor great space around
the hard wooden floor had been freshly
scrubbed and scraped All at once cried
out. Under the bed | had seen man,
stretched out, motionless rs an overturned
statue. ! could not cry or call out. With
trembling hands | touched the man. He
did not move. With trembling hands
pushed the man. He did not move. With
trembling hands | seized the man by the
feet and drew him forth-hc was dead!
His neck had been clearly cut, as with
one stroke of razor, and the head held to
the trunk only by slender ligament.
thought should go mad. But some
thing must be done-the assassin might
come mt any moment. ! raised the body
to place it on the bed. made false
step and the livid head turned over,
swung to and fro for II moment like
hideous pendulum and then, detached
from the trunk, fell on the floor with II
Gull sound. With great difficulty intro
duced the decapitated trunk between the
sheets, l picked up the head and placed it
Oh the pillow like that of II sleeping man,
and, having blown out the candle,
slipped under the bed. did all this me
chanically, without thought of defense or
safety; it was instinct that prompted me,
not intelligence or reflection.
My teeth chartered. My hands were
wet with thick moisture. / felt as If
had gone TO bed in charnel house.
| remained there in that awful fear
minutes, hours, months, years, centuries
/ do not know how long. | lost all idea
of time and place All was silent From
without the noise of the storm and the
whstling of the wind came to me softcned
and sad, like means. | could not picture
to myself the assassin who was coming
who was there perhaps. In that state of
horror / could see only little Lizzie, fair,
rosy and frank, with her doll and her great
hat; could see her sleeping in her fathers
arms; now and then she lightly raised her
eyelids and disclosed her eyes, which
seemed to me to be bold, implacable,
cruel, murderous
The door opened, but rs softly as the
scratching of q mouse. / bit my lips till
the blood came to keep from crying out.
Now a man stepped in with gliding tread,
with infinite precautions to avoid touching
The furniture. 1t seemed to me rs If |
could sec the cruel, clutching fingers gld-
ing over my clothes, searching my pockets.
Then the steps came nearer, seemed to
craze me. felt that the man was bend
ing over the bed, that he struck one fierce
blow. Then knew nothing more.
When | recovered consciousness the
room had become silent again. But fright
held me nailed to the spot. At length l
decided to escape, with what caution you
may imagine. On tiptoe gained the door,
which had not been closed. Not II sound,
not breath. Feeling my way, passed
into the hall. waited to see u head thrust
suddenly from out the shadows, n knife
rlenn In the dark Rnt no-thc brute.